Football Wins Wild One

October 20, 2007

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Southwestern Oklahoma State University made it look easy early only to discover winning football games against Lone Star Conference opponents is getting harder and harder. The Bulldogs built what seemed to be an insurmountable four-touchdown lead only to see it nearly evaporate with frightening speed by a spirited Northeastern State University team. SWOSU survived a 31-24 scare Saturday in Tahlequah and kept alive its chances for what promises to be a wild four-team run at the LSC North title.

The win was SWOSU’s first in four games and evened the Bulldogs record at 4-4 on the year and 1-1 in the LSC North Division. NSU, losers of two straight to the Bulldogs, dipped to 1-7 on the year and 1-2 in division play. The win by SWOSU in Tahlequah was the first time since 1996.

SWOSU, along with Southeastern Oklahoma State, University of Central Oklahoma and Texas A&M-Commerce sit tied atop the LSC North race each with one loss at the midway point.

SWOSU appeared on the verge of blowing out the RiverHawks taking a 31-3 lead deep into the fourth quarter before things got ugly quick. NSU rallied behind backup quarterback Jeremy Beal and scored three touchdowns in a span of eight minutes to bring the RiverHawks to within 31-24.

NSU successfully executed two onside kicks in the last 47 seconds of the game and had a chance to tie or possibly win the game in overtime. Beal got NSU to the SWOSU 38 before lobbing three straight incompletions, the last of which was batted away in the endzone by an alert SWOSU defender.

The wild comeback overshadowed what had been an impressive day by SWOSU quarterback Steve Day who had his best game of the season. Day completed 17-of-28 passes for 316 yards and three touchdowns, all of which went to star receiver Johnathan Haggerty.

Haggerty ended the day with five catches for 123 yards and caught scoring tosses of 14, 31, and 54 yards. It was the third time this season the sophomore has caught balls totaling more than 100 yards in a game.

Haggerty was not alone in offensive production as teammate Michael Cooper had his best effort of the season catching four passes for 92 yards. Cooper came up with an acrobatic leaping grab that set up SWOSU’s first touchdown of the game midway through the first period.

Defensively, SWOSU had NSU under wraps through three quarters. The RiverHawks had just three points and had squeezed out just 175 yards before exploding for 21 fourth-quarter points and nearly 200 yards of offense in the final stages.

Demarcus Render, Tim Stephenson and Greg Franklin each had five tackles to lead the team while Marcus Walker returned an interception 53 yards to set up another SWOSU score.

The Bulldogs continue on the road next week when they play arch rival Central Oklahoma Saturday, Oct. 27 in Edmond. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.